Universidad del Norte, Colombia

About: Universidad del Norte, Colombia is a education organization based out in Barranquilla, Colombia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 3562 authors who have published 4355 publications receiving 37861 citations. The organization is also known as: University of the North, Colombia & Uninorte.

Socio-economic determinants and spatial convergence of biological well-being: the case of Colombia, 1920-1990

Abstract: espanolEste articulo investiga la relacion entre la estatura de los colombianos nacidos en el siglo XX y algunas variables socioeconomicas. Usando una base de datos de mas de 225,000 individuos construida a partir de certificados de antecedentes judiciales, encontramos un aumento sostenido de la estatura promedio en mujeres y hombres durante el siglo XX. Los resultados muestran diferencias importantes en la estatura segun genero, nivel educativo, ocupacion, y lugar y fecha de nacimiento. Las condiciones de salud y el acceso a acueductos afectan significativamente la estatura. Encontramos que las disparidades en la estatura promedio entre departamentos se redujeron y la brecha entre las regiones se cerro a lo largo del siglo. EnglishThis paper explores the relationship between the physical stature of Colombians born during the 20th century and several socio-economic and demographic variables. Using a dataset of more than 225,000 individuals built with information from judicial background certificates, we found a sustained growth of the average height of women and men during the 20th century. The results show significant differences in stature according to gender, level of education, occupation, and place and date of birth. Similarly, health conditions and access to aqueducts significantly affect height. We found that departmental average height disparities decreased and the gap across regions closed throughout the century.

Spermatozoon Segmentation Towards an Objective Analysis of Human Sperm Morphology

Abstract: Sperm morphology has a key role in the determination of fertility in men. Nowadays assessments of sperm morphology are mostly done based on subjective criteria. This article discusses details of the image processing algorithms implemented in a computer aided tool for the objective analysis of human sperm morphology, commonly known as automated sperm morphology analyzer (ASMA). The first stage described is the detection and extraction of individual spermatozoon of an image containing multiple spermatozoa and biological rests as well. A novel method for segmenting acrosome, nucleus and mid-piece of a spermatozoon is proposed. The method called nth- fusion introduced in this paper is the framework of the segmentation algorithm implemented in this computer aided tool, this algorithm has been tested with a 250 spermatozoon images database and the results are quite accurate.

Adherencia al Tratamiento basado en Comportamientos en Pacientes Diabéticos Cartagena de Indias, Colombia

Abstract: Objetivo Conocer los niveles de adherencia auto-reportada y control metabolico, interpretados desde un enfoque biopsicosocial, con el fin de proponer estrategias culturalmente adaptadas que permitan el logro de mejores resultados en los programas impartidos. Metodos se realizo un estudio descriptivo que incluyo 131 pacientes diabeticos usuarios de una empresa promotora de salud (EPS) de la ciudad de Cartagena de Indias, Colombia. Se aplicaron entrevistas para conocer los niveles de adherencia auto-reportada y se midio hemoglobina glucosilada A1C para evaluar control metabolico. Resultados En una escala de 0 a 7, el puntaje promedio de adherencia obtenido fue de 4,6 (IC 95 % 3,8-5,4). Los mayores puntajes fueron 6,6 para no tabaquismo (IC 95 % 5,5-7,8) y 6,2 para medicacion (IC 95 % 5,9-6,6). Los menores fueron 0,4 para automonitoreo (IC 95 % 0,4-0,5); 3,4 para ejercicio fisico (IC 95 % 2,8-4,0) y 4,4 para consumo de vegetales (IC 95 % 3,7-5,2). El control metabolico deseable se logro en el 58 % de los pacientes, pero no guardo relacion con la adherencia auto-reportada (p>0,05). Conclusiones Se recomienda evaluar la adherencia de manera independiente para cada comportamiento, fortalecer los pilares no farmacologicos del tratamiento en los programas dirigidos a pacientes diabeticos e implementar las acciones pertinentes para lograr mayores niveles de accesibilidad a estos.

Stable carbon isotopes (δ13C) of total organic carbon and long-chain n-alkanes as proxies for climate and environmental change in a sediment core from Lake Petén-Itzá, Guatemala

Abstract: Sediment core PI-6 from Lake Peten Itza, Guatemala, possesses an ~85-ka record of climate and environmental change from lowland Central America. Variations in sediment lithology suggest large and abrupt changes in precipitation during the last glacial and deglacial periods, and into the early Holocene. We measured stable carbon isotope ratios of total organic carbon and long-chain n-alkanes from the core, the latter representing a largely allochthonous (terrestrial) source of organic matter, to reveal past shifts in the relative proportion of C3–C4 terrestrial biomass. We sought to test whether stable carbon isotope results were consistent with other paleoclimate proxies measured in the PI-6 core, and if extraction and isotope analysis of n-alkanes is warranted. The largest δ13C variations are associated with Heinrich Events. Carbon isotope values in sediments deposited during the last glacial maximum indicate moderate precipitation with little fluctuation. The deglacial was a period of pronounced climate variability, e.g. a relatively warm and moist Bolling–Allerod, but a cool and dry Younger Dryas. Arid periods of the deglacial were inferred from samples with high δ13C values in total organic carbon, which reflect times of greater proportions of C4 plants. These inferences are supported by stable isotope measurements on ostracod shells and relative abundance of grass pollen from the same depths in core PI-6. Similar trends in carbon stable isotopes measured on bulk organic carbon and n-alkanes suggest that carbon isotope measures on bulk organic carbon in sediments from this lake are sufficient to infer past climate-driven shifts in local vegetation.